Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

Selected with the choice acquired in the trade of Craig Conroy to Calgary.

2006-07: Dwight King finished seventh on the team in scoring with 44 points, up from 16 during the 2005-06 season, with an added 38 penalty minutes.

2007-08: King led Lethbridge into the WHL championship series. The dramatic rise in the standings by Lethbridge and their subsequent drive through the playoffs was due in no small part to King’s tremendous development since last season. Already a large frame at 6’3 and 213lbs, King nearly tripled his goals scored (34) while significantly improving on his plus/minus, as did most who played for the Hurricanes this season. King was dominant on the power play and showed grittiness sufficient to hold up to large defenders and dig out pucks around the net.

2008-09: King's production was slightly down this season – scoring 25 goals and 60 points in 64 games – but some would say he had his best season yet with Lethbridge. King started the season slow and really turned on the offensive faucet midway through the season despite being targeted as one of the Hurricane's primary scorers and drawing double teams around the net. Because of this focus, King was able to open up ice for his teammates more than able to score himself.

2009-10: King split his first professional season between Ontario and Manchester where for Ontario, he posted 4 goals and 5 assists in 20 games. For Manchester, he posted 10 goals, 16 assists, and 42 PIM in 52 games. He also posted 2 goals and 7 assists in 16 playoff matches.

2010-11: King made his NHL debut – skating in six November games with Los Angeles – and was the third-leading scorer for the Kings' AHL affiliate Manchester in his second pro season. King had no points and was -2 with 2 PMs while averaging just under 12 minutes of ice time in his stint with the Kings. In 72 games with the Monarchs he scored 24 goals with 28 assists and was +12 with 58 PMs. The Monarchs, after finishing second in the Atlantic Division, faced eventual Calder Cup champion Binghamton in the first round of the AHL playoffs and in seven playoff games King scored 2 goals with 3 assists and was +1 with 2 PMs.

2011-12: King was re-called by Los Angeles in February after opening the season with AHL Manchester and was a key contributor to the Kings' playoff run to the Stanley Cup. King skated in 27 regular games, averaging 14:38 minutes of ice time, and was plus-three with 5 goals and 9 assists. He scored 5 goals in 20 playoff games (trailing only Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter – who had eight each) and was plus-three with 3 assists and 13 penalty minutes. King played 50 games for Manchester and scored 11 goals with 18 assists; finishing plus-six with 20 penalty minutes. He signed a two-year contract with Los Angeles in July, 2012.

Talent Analysis

King is a well-built left wing that plays a physical and gritty style. Possess a great 6'3 frame that can carry a tremendous amount of muscle weight well. His offensive game must catch up with his physical stature and has the raw skills to be a future power forward. He needs to develop more consistency in his game.

Photo: Rookie pro Tyler Toffoli has made a seamless transition to the AHL in 2012-13, leading the Manchester Monarchs with 26 goals so far this season. (courtesy of Fred Kfoury/Icon SMI)

On the Stanley Cup winning roster of the 2012 Los Angeles Kings, there were 12 homegrown, King-drafted players, 10 of whom had spent time in the AHL with the Manchester Monarchs at some point in their career. Over the years the team has built from the draft and tried to develop talent from within rather than trading or building through free agency.

Photo: The fourth overall pick in 2007, defenseman Thomas Hickey is still trying to find his game in the AHL as part of the Manchester Monarchs' blue line corps. (courtesy of Fred Kfoury/Icon SMI)

The Los Angeles Kings minor league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, is absolutely packed and brimming with talent of all shapes and sizes. Through recent drafting and promotion of junior level prospects, the Monarchs have filled their lines and pairings with a wealth of two-way talent, defensive talent, goal-scorers, and grinders.

Photo: Though the Columbus Blue Jackets added several important prospects this past off-season, none were more prominent than defenseman Ryan Murray, who was selected second overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. (Derek Leung/Getty Images)

Below is the bottom third of the NHL Team Rankings in terms of prospects as voted on by Hockey's Future staff. To determine the ranking, each team's entire prospect pool was taken into consideration. For reference, just the top five prospects are listed. To be eligible, a prospect must meet HF's prospect criteria. The rankings are done twice a year, with the second scheduled to be published in the Spring.

Photo: Two-way blueliner Jake Muzzin is one of the Los Angeles Kings' top defensive prospects playing with the AHL's Manchester Monarchs in 2012-13. (courtesy of Fred Kfoury/Icon SMI)

For many years running now the Los Angeles Kings have had one of the best youth systems in the NHL. However, with promotions of players, deals involving picks, and later round selections, the pool has diminished slightly over time. It is the natural progression of a rebuilding mode that has given the organization three top-five picks since 2007 and seven top-15 picks since 2005.

Photo: Nick Shore, one of the many skilled forwards to watch in the Kings' system in 2012-13, is already off to a quick start for Denver University. (courtesy of Patrick S Blood/Icon SMI)

The 2012-13 season commences for the Los Angeles Kings prospects knowing that their organization just achieved hockey's greatest prize. Through years of solid drafting and good prospect development, the Kings were able to mold a championship-winning lineup. It seems that this trend is still alive and well within the pipeline with notable prospects at all levels of play.